Body-protecting shield.



N. DOBFMAN.

BODY PROIECTING SHIELD. APPucAnoN FILEDMAY I5. 1911.

1,277,706. Patented Sept. 3,1918.

IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

NATHAN DORFMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BODY-PROTECTING SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

Application filed May 15, 1917. Serial No. 168,750.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN DORFMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Body-Protecting Shields, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to body-protecting shields, and its object is to provide a shield of simple construction, which is collapsible so as to be worn without inconvenience when not actually in use.

The above object is attained through a novel combination and arrangementof parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shield in collapsed form;

Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof in extended form, showing its application; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the shield extended as in Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 denotes a number of sections of which the shield is composed. Each section comprises a rectangular plate of steel or other suitable metal, having a bowed longitudinal section. To form the shield, the plates are assembled successively in the direction of their width, to slightly overlap one another as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. All the plates havea like curvature, and by increasing their overlap, they may be gathered until their combined width will. not exceed that of any one plate, as shown in Fig. 1.

In applying the shield to the body, per showing in Fig. 2, the length of its sections is calculated to form the shield with a gradual increase in width downward. This design, in combination with the curvature of the shield, adapts the latter to fit the body comfortably. In order that the shield sections may be held together in gathered or extended form, the following means is provided: In each section 5, except the longest, are made two transverse slots 6, these being close to the respective ends of the section, and of a length nearly equal to the width of the section. With the sections assembled,

as in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the lower ends of the slots in the uppermost plate overlie the next section at points between the slots in said next section. Screws 7 are passed through the lower ends of said slots into the said next section to secure the two sections, suilicient looseness being allowed to permit the sections to be slid onto one another as described. The succeeding sections are also connected in the above manner, the arrangement of the slots 6 and screws 7 serving to maintain the sections in alinement.

The longest or bottom shield section is not made with slots 6, as there would be no function for the latter to perform. On the inner face of said section, however, are provided two slide keepers 8 for a good-sized leather belt 9. The latter, when adjusted to the persons waist serves to support the shield in collapsed form, and the shield may be worn thus when not in actual use without discomfort to the person. When the shield is extended .per Fig. 2, an additional support is provided to prevent the accidental collapse of the sections, this support comprising a punctured tab 10 sewed on the outer face of the suspender straps 11 at the height of the shoulders. The tabs 10 are made fast to metal buttons 12 at the top of the uppermost shield section 5. This means, in supporting the latter, serves to keep the shield in extended form.

It will be evident that,.in addition to the above-mentioned properties of the shield, the latter will readily adjust itself to the movements of the body. hen the person stoops or bends over in assuming a sitting or crouching position, the shield sections gather to correspond, and even follow the receding curvature of the body to a certain extent, there being sufiicient play in the jointing of the sections to permit this action.

I claim 1. A body-protecting shield composed of a series of sections lapped in successive order and adapted to he slid together telescopically, and means for connecting the sections to each other.

2. A body-protecting shield composed of a series of bowed sections lapped in successive order in a direction ,at right angles to their curvature'and ac apted to he slid together telescopically, and means for loosely connecting the sections to each other.

3. A body-protecting shield composed of a series of looWed' sections lapped in successive order in a direction at right angles to Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the flommissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0."

1116111; during their sliding movement.

In testimony whereof I aflixiny signature.

NATHAN DORFMAN. 

